UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 10th October, 1908.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, F-07

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1909. NEW ZEALAND.

UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 10th October, 1908.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX. Nos. Pans. British Post Office agencies in Morocco included in Imperial penny-postage scheme .. I, S, tf 1,2 British Post Offices in French settlements in [ndls included iii Imperial penny-postage scheme lti. 18 6, 6 New Zealand and universal jienny postage .. .. .. .. 1 1 4 United States, — Introduction of jienny postage with United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 7.8,10 3,4 Rate on letters to New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. • • 1-3 Proposed penny postage with New Zealand .. .. .. 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, l. r >, 17 2, 3, S, »> No. 1. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. giu . General Post Office, London, sth June, 1908. I am directed to inform you thai the Postmaster-General has had under consideration the question of reducing the rate of postage on letters passing between the United Kingdom and the British Post Office Agencies in Morocco, and has decided that from the 15th instant the agencies should be included in the Imperial penny-postage scheme. The postage-rate on letters from the United Kingdom to the agencies will be reduced to Id. the ounce, and in the reverse direction to a rate of 10 centimos for every 20 grammes on letters from the agencies for the United Kingdom. Moreover, on the assumption that such a course will not be open to any objection on the part o the Post Offices concerned, it litis been decided to apply forthwith the new rate of 10 centimos per 20 grammes to letters sent from the agencies to British colonies and protectorates generally and to Egypt. The Postmaster-General will be glad to learn that you concur in this arrangement, and that you have been good enough to issue the necessary instructions so far as your office is concerned for treating such letters as folly prepaid. He will be glad also if you will at the same time inform him whether you are in a position to apply to letters for the agencies the existing rate of postage for letters from New Zealand for the United Kingdom. I am to add that British Post Office Agencies are maintained in Morocco at Alcazar, Casablanca, Fez, Larache, Mazagan, Mequinez, Mogador, Rabat, Saffi, Tangier, and Tetuan, and that, as soon as practicable, a British agency will be opened at Marrakesh. I liave, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. E. W. Farnall. [P.O. 08/162L(.->).] No. 2. The Acting Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Sir,— Division of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., 15th June, 1908. Referring to your letter of the 29th April last [not printed], relative to the rate of postage applicable in New Zealand to letters for the United States, 1 have the honour, by direction of the Post-

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master-General, to advise you that United States Postmasters have been informed that the rate o\ postage applicable in New Zealand to letters for this country is Id. per half-ounce ; and that that rate will be given in the United States Official Post Office Guide to be issued next month (July). In this connection, reference is had also to the correspondence closing with your letter of the Bth November, 1906 [No. 10, F.-7, 1907], and to Circular No. 4070/273 of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, dated 13th August, 1907 [not printed]. I have, &c, John W. Hollyday,' Acting Second Assistant Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. [P.O. 08/1621.1 No. 3. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd August, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth June last notifying that British Postal Agencies had been established at the following places in Morocco : Alcazar, Casablanca, Fez, Larache, Mazagan, Mequinez, Mogador, Rabat, Saffi, Tangier, and Tetuan ; and that the postage-rates on letters from the United Kingdom to the places named would be Id. per ounce, and in the opposite direction 10 centimos per 20 grammes. In reply, I have to inform you that the agencies have been included in the list of offices to which letters bearing Id. postage may be forwarded from New Zealand. I have, &c, D. Robertson, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General. fP.O. 08/1621(5).] No. 4. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (Telegram.) London, 30th August, 1908. Penny postage between United Kingdom and United States of America comes into operation first October. Inquiry being made whether United States of America would agree conditionally unilateral arrangements with New Zealand being made bilateral if desired by your Government. [P.O. 08/1821(6).] No. 5. His Excellency the Governor to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Coloniks. (Telegram.) Palmerston North, 31st August, 1908. The bilateral action is desired, and the Prime Minister hopes that the United States will now agree to reduce their postage to New Zealand to one penny. [P.O. (18/11121(6).] No. (i. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 18th September, 1908 The Postmaster-General has been gratified to learn from your letter of the 3rd ultimo that you have arranged to apply the rate of Id. the ounce to letters sent from New Zealand to the places in Morocco where the British Post Office maintains agencies. The necessary instructions have been given in the matter. I have, &c. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. E. W. Farnall. [P.O. 08/1621(5).]

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No. 7. Mi. .1. Hennikbb Hbaton, M.P., London, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, Ist October, 1908. Hennikeb Heaton desires convey cordial thanks New Zealand for helping forward cause of penny postage between Great Britain and United States of America now coming into force. [P.O. 08/ isgij No. 8. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to Ma. J. Hennikeb Beaton, M.P., London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 2nd October, 1908. New Zealand is proud that her humble efforts in cause of universal penny postage, which is dear to her, have been of assistance in promoting scheme between tin- two greatest English-speaking countries of the world. [P.O. 08/1681.] No. !>. The Right Hon. the Secretary of Statu tob the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th October, 1908. With reference to your telegram of the Ist September [31st August], I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Ministers the accompanying copy of correspondence with His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, front which it appears that the Government of the United States are not at the present moment prepared to accept a bilateral a rangemenl for postage at the rate of 2 cents between the United States and New Zealand. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &o. Crewe. [P.O. 08/1621] Knclosure 1 in No. 9. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Howard", Councillor of Embassy, Washington. (Telegram.) London, 31st August, 1908. Penny postage with United States. Please inquire of United States Government whether, in view of recent agreement with United Kingdom to take effect on October Ist, they would be prepared, if New Zealand Government so desire, to agree to a bilateral arrangement for penny postage between that colony and United States in lieu of unilateral arrangement of November Ist, 190(>. Knclosure 2 in No. 9. The British Ambassador at Washington to the Bight Hon. the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Sir, — British Embassy, Manchester, Mass., 30th September, 1908. On receipt of your telegram, Mr. Howard addressed a note to the State Department asking whether the United States Government would, in view of the recent agreement with Great Britain, be disposed to agree to a bilateral arrangement for postage at the rate of 2 cents (Id.) between this country and New Zealand. I have to-day received a reply to my communication from the Acting Secretary of State informing me thatCthe Postmaster-General is unable at the present time to favourably consider this proposed reduction in theipostage rate. 1 have, Arc. The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &c. James Bryce.

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No. 10. [Extract from the London Philatelist, October, ltios. | Penny Postage to America. October the Ist saw the most important step towards universal penny postage in the adoption of that scale between the two great Anglo-Saxon races of England and America. Mr. Henniker Heaton —the pioneer of the movement—must have been proud to have seen his lifelong labours thus crowned, and among the many who have congratulated him will be found the names of his numerous philatelic friends. Universal penny postage has not arrived, but practically the English-speaking race all over the world now enjoys the boon, exactly sixty-nine years after Sir Rowland Hill's great innovation was first inaugurated. Australia and Rhodesia have still to abolish the imposition of a slightly higher charge than the penny per ounce for letter-postage to the Mother-country, and one or two islands in the Pacific have to be brought in line. But these anomalies will, it is expected, soon be rectified — negotiations are, in fact, already afoot with that object and it will then be possible to say, without qualification, that the whole of the British Empire and the United States are linked together by a cheap uniform postal service. The following notice that has been addressed to the whole of the post offices of t he United Kingdom and the United States as to this historical event may fittingly be recorded in this journal : — " The Postmaster-General desires to draw attention to the fad t hat on and after to-day. October I, the postage payable on letters posted in the United Kingdom for tin- United States of America will be Id. for each ounce. This uniform rate of Id. tin ounce will supersede the present rates of I'M. for the first ounce and lid. for each additional ounce. " A like reduction will be made on the same date in the postage on letters from the United States of America to this country, which will be 2c. for each ounce, instead of the present rates of Tic. for the first ounce and 3c. for each additional ounce. " There will be no alteration in the rates of postage on post-cards, printed and commercial papers, and sample packets passing between the two countries. " It may be noted that the present reduction in postage to the United States is additional to that which was introduced on October 1 last, when the rates of 2£d. for the first ounce and lid. for each subsequent ounce to the United States (and all other foreign countries) were substituted for the rate of 2Jd. for each half-ounce. Thus the postage on a one-ounce letter to the United States, which was reduced in October last from sd. to 2td. is now further reduced to Id. ; and similarly the postage on a two-ounce letter, which was then reduced from lOd. to 4d., is now further reduced to 2d." [I'.o. 08/1021.] No. 11. [News extract, 16th October, 190 S. | Mr. J. Henniker Heaton, M.P., to the Editor of the " Weekly Times," London. Carlton Club, London, 6th October, 1908. Sir, — Universal Penny Postage. The cable message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.) deserves special attention, because it refers to a stage in the progress of universal penny postage not generally known. The first country in the world to establish universal penny postage was New Zealand. The following telegram explains this, which I received at the time : — " Wellington, New Zealand, 17th August, 1900. " To Henniker Heaton, M.P., House of Commons, London. " I have much pleasure in informing you that New Zealand introduces universal penny postage from the Ist January, 1901. It will be a fitting commemoration of the new century, and will add another link to the chain of Empire. "J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General." Consequently the three thousand American sailors visiting New Zealand in August last had the pleasure of posting their letters from Auckland (their port in New Zealand) to their homes in the United States at the penny rate. On the 17th July of last year (1907) the Postmaster-General of America, the Hon. G. yon L. Meyer, wrote to me offering penny postage with Great Britain and Ireland if I could privately ascertain that the British Government was favourable to the scheme. 1 had left for Australia a few days before, and the important letter followed me there. On receipt of it my friend the Prime Minister of New Zealand telegraphed its contents to the British Government, with a strongly expressed wish that England would agree to the proposal. The subsequent negotiations so happily concluded by the Postmasters-General of Great Britain and the United States are well known ; but I think it interesting to record the part taken by a daughter of the Empire in this splendid work. I have, &c. J. Hennikeb Heaton. P.O. 08/16 I.]

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No. 12. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the lion, the Postmaster-General, Washington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th January, 1909. Glad if you confirm report introduction penny postage United States to New Zealand. |l S js.j No. 13. The Hon. the Postmaster-General. Washington, to the Hon. the POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Wellington. (Telegram.) Washington, D.C., 26th January, 1909. Report unfounded. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 14. The lion, the POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Wellington, to the Hon. the POSTMASTER GENERAL, Washington. General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1909. Sib, — Penny Pottage. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 25th ultimo, and to acknowledge the receipt of Your reply of the 26th idem. I beg to thank you for your telegram, and to say that, now that the minimum letter-postage both ways between the United States of America and the United Kingdom is Id., 1 should be exceedingly glad if you could see your way to agree to the same rate from the United States to New Zealand. As you are aware, the New Zealand Government lias recently arranged to subsidise a line of steamers to make a close connection with your subsidised line at Papeete in order to improve the mail communication between our respective countries. 1 have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 15. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Sir,— Division of Foreign .Mails. Washington, D.C, 16th March, 1909. Referring to your letter of the 2nd ultimo, 1 have the honour, by direction of the PostmasterGeneral, to inform you that this Department cannot consider favourably the proposal for the reduction at present of the rates of postage applicable to articles mailed in the United States addressed for delivery in New Zealand. 1 have. &r.. Josepb Stewart, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Second Assistant Postmaster-General. [P.O. 09/28.] No. 16. The Right Hon. the SECRETARY of State kiii; tiik Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. .My Lord,— Downing Street. 29th April, 1909. 1 have the honour to request tli.it you will inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for India litis been requested by the Government of India to .secure the acceptance by the postal administrations of the Empire of letters from the British Indian post-offices situated in the French settlements in India, if stamped like letters from ordinary llritish post-ollices in India. 2. 1 have to explain that the post-ollices in question have been established in many cases for over ti century on French territory, and they are treated in India precisely like ordinary British postollices. 3. The French Government has consented to letters from the post-ollices m question being treated in the same way as letters from post-offices in British territory on condition that similar treatment is extended to letters posted in French post offices in the settlements in question. 4. His Majesty's Government have agreed, as far as the United Kingdom and Crown colonies tire concerned, to comply with the condition laid down by the French Government, to which they feel that no reasonable exception can lie taken, and letters addressed to the United Kingdom and tiny Crown colonies or protectorates will be accepted as fully stamped, if stamped in the same mai tas letters posted in British India, whether posted in the British post-offices in the French settlements or in the French post-offices there.

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5. Your Ministers will probably see no objection in the special circumstances of the case to extending to the British and French post-ollices in the French settlements the advantages already given to the ot her post-ollices of the Kinpire. No doubt the number of letters a fleeted will lie extremely small, but His .Majesty's Government would he glad to learn that your Government agree to the con cession being made. I have, &c., Governor the Right lion. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0.. &c. Crewe. P.O. ":' -MM.I No. 17. The Acting - Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Second Assistant PostmasterGeneral, Washington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th May, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Kith March hist, declining I lie proposal of the Post master t ieneral of t his Dominion for t he reduction of t he minimum letter postage from the United States Io New Zealand to one penny. The Postmaster General regrets that voui Administration is unable to sec its way tit present to agree to the proposed reduction. In the hope that the question will he reconsidered, he desires to mention that I he adoption of the penny rate for letters from New Zealand to the United States has resulted in a largely int leased revenue: also that as the penny rale has been adopted for letters for the United Kingdom, he believes it would he of material advantage to the trade relations between our respective countries if the same concession were granted in the case of letters for New Zealand. I have, &<-.. \\. R. Morris, Acting-Secretary. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. P.O. »'.i, 88.] No. 18. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General to the Hon. the Acting Prime Minister. [Minnie.| General Post Office, Wellington, 21st June, 1909. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister. Arrangements will be made in New Zealand to pass letters stamped like letters from British India from British post-offices in French settlements in India. J. G. Findlay, For Postmaster-General. [P.O. U»/i-,21.|

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